"Modernist Cuisine" by Myhrvold, Young & Bilet (Part 1)

[Fat Guy]

This morning my son asked for home fries. Trouble was, he asked about 15 minutes before we needed to leave for school and we had only raw whole russet potatoes. I thought to myself, "What would those Modernist Cuisine people do?"

I cut a potato fairly small and mixed the pieces with a little water, then microwaved covered for 4 minutes. Got a pan screaming hot and threw them in with neutral vegetable oil, and salt. Finished with a knob of butter. Voila, very good home fries in 12 minutes.

[Robbie]

Just saw this on another site I frequent, my god it looks good...think I'll have to start saving for this book

http://aht.seriouseats.com/assets_c/2011/01/20110131-modernist-cuisine-burger-137237.html

[Kent Wang]

And here's Popular Science's slide show tour of the labs.

This is pretty neat. I can't imagine that the mosquitoes are for Modernist Cuisine, must be for some other Intellectual Ventures project.

[nathanm]

Yes, the mosquitoes are for our work combatting malaria. We don't cook with them!

[JBailey]

Nathan

That was an interesting photo tour of your your facilities, thank you for allowing them access. I look forward to when my copy of Modernist Cuisine arrives. Several years ago, the New York Times wrote an article about you and what was contained in your kithcen at that time. It inspired and encouraged me to buy a PacoJet, which subsequently hooked me on buying many other pieces of specialized equipment! This latest gallery helps me inventory what equipment you have that I also have in my kitchen and those items I still need to add! I may skip the Okomoto, the Omax and the mosquitoes! Seriously, I am most anxious to get my copy of your book so I can get the full potential from the equipment I do have and to learn the techniques you describe. Again, thank you for what you have done.

[blackp]

When attempting to look at the PopSci page I just get a message that the page is not available. I can navigate the PopSci site, but not see this article. Any clues?

Peter.

[Wayt Gibbs]

I am happy to report that we've just made the complete, 60-page index to Modernist Cuisine available to everyone at http://modernistcuisine.com/index. If you share it, we'd be grateful if you share the link, rather than the document itself.

Enjoy!

[runwestierun]

Nathan,

How many sets of books (is it OK to call Modernist Cuisine a set of books?) are in your first printing?

[PedroG]

When attempting to look at the PopSci page I just get a message that the page is not available. I can navigate the PopSci site, but not see this article. Any clues?

Peter.

For me the link worked, but you may try this one.

Very impressive. But I missed the modernist kitchen scale!

Built 1933, resolution 1mg, maximum load 100g.

[nickrey]

Must not like Australians, I can't get through on either link.

[rarerollingobject]

Must not like Australians, I can't get through on either link.

Annoying redirection thing to the popsci.com.au site. Drives me crazy on a regular basis. You can either use a US IP proxy service, VPN (I use Comodo Trust Connect) or try this link (the lab gallery on popsci viewed through a proxy browser): Modernist Cuisine Lab

Edited February 6, 2011 by rarerollingobject (log)

[blackp]

Must not like Australians, I can't get through on either link.

Annoying redirection thing to the popsci.com.au site. Drives me crazy on a regular basis. You can either use a US IP proxy service, VPN (I use Comodo Trust Connect) or try this link (the lab gallery on popsci viewed through a proxy browser): Modernist Cuisine Lab

Thanks for that - I was able to see the impressive photos using your proxy suggestion. Just one thing - by clicking on the link in your mail I got just the proxy site - not the PopSci site. If anyone has this problem go to the proxy site first and then paste the link http://www.popsci.com/gadgets/gallery/2011-02/equipment-gallery?image=0 into the field in that page.

Can't wait for my copy of the books to arrive!

Cheers,

Peter.

[Chris Amirault]

One thing that cooking with the online version has demonstrated clearly is that this massive project belongs in a good ol' book. The amount of information, the cross-referencing, and the quality and size of the images makes negotiating it on this MacBook a multitab exercise in frustration.

[Chris Hennes]

No doubt: it's great to have access to a free review copy online, but I'm glad I ordered the book. I need this thing in paper form. The five volumes frequently reference each other, to the point where I think when you're plotting out a meal you will probably want to have most of the set in front of you.

[Fat Guy]

To convert this thing to an ebook would require rebuilding it not just digitizing it. I think it would make an excellent ebook -- some of the problems alluded to here can easily be addressed electronically -- but I can see all the reasons they went with paper. Not least of which is that there wasn't really a big ebook culture when they started the project. And the quality of photos in print is still much better, especially if you use the super-high-quality printing techniques they went with for Modernist Cuisine.

[Amida0616]

One thing that cooking with the online version has demonstrated clearly is that this massive project belongs in a good ol' book. The amount of information, the cross-referencing, and the quality and size of the images makes negotiating it on this MacBook a multitab exercise in frustration.

Interesting.

It seems like the ability to open multiple windows or tabs at once on a computer would make cross-referencing and viewing multiple items easier? Seems like a book where you have to flip back and forth could be more troublesome.

I am so envious that you guys get to browse the book early!

[OliverB]

the more I read about these books, the less I think I'm insane to order this thing and I think I calmed my wallet down, at least it's no longer screaming quite as loud

Can't wait for the package, Amazon better pack this thing really well, I won't accept anything less than perfect delivery!

[Le Master]

the more I read about these books, the less I think I'm insane to order this thing and I think I calmed my wallet down, at least it's no longer screaming quite as loud

Can't wait for the package, Amazon better pack this thing really well, I won't accept anything less than perfect delivery!

Amazon is pretty amazing, though, and you can return it for free as many times as you want until it's in the condition you want it. They'll even send UPS to your house to pick it up for you. I was a jerk and did it three times with my Alinea book.

[gilius]

I have been trying to find the physical size of the pages, anyone that have seen this ?

/gilius

[ryanmatthewsmith]

single page size is 262mm wide by 330mm tall

Cheers,

Ryan

[Chris Amirault]

The eagle has landed:

More -- much, much more -- soon.

[Chris Hennes]

Before we all go stand at our doors waiting for the UPS guy... what Chris has there is a press-preview loaner copy. I wonder how much flights to Rhode Island are these days?

[mkayahara]

Jeepers, Chris. Google Maps tells me it's only a 10-hour drive to Providence. I'll be right over!

[Chris Amirault]

I've got some work to do here, but will be happy to provide both photos and descriptions of the book later today. Feel free to post questions here for me to tackle later.

First impressions: remember when you were standing at the edge of the Grand Canyon, thinking, "It can't possibly be this... this... BIG"?

That.

[Anna N]

I've got some work to do here, but will be happy to provide both photos and descriptions of the book later today. Feel free to post questions here for me to tackle later.

First impressions: remember when you were standing at the edge of the Grand Canyon, thinking, "It can't possibly be this... this... BIG"?

That.

Chris,

That actually happened to me. I stood on the edge of the Grand Canyon and finally understood what "it took my breath away" meant. Hasn't happened to me since so I would love to re-live that with these books! I won't have my own copy but have been promised unlimited access to a friend's copy. March seems so far away.